Haaland’s Viking Assist: Man City Star Donates Rare Scandinavian Saga Manuscript

Last Updated:March 25, 2026, 9:53 PM IST

Erling Haaland donated a rare Viking saga manuscript to his hometown — ensuring Norway’s history stays accessible, open, and close to home.

Erling Haaland in action [AFP Photos]

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has built himself quite a reputation as a Viking amongst mere men. Now, it seems like he’s taken it quite literally.

The Norwegian superstar has made a remarkable cultural gesture, donating a rare 16th-century manuscript of Viking sagas to his hometown municipality.

Haaland, alongside his father Alf-Inge Haaland, acquired a 1594 edition of Snorri Sturluson’s chronicles at auction last December for a whopping 1.3 million Norwegian crowns (around $133,636), setting a national record for a book sale in Norway, according to NRK.

The manuscript chronicles the lives of medieval Norse kings, a cornerstone of Scandinavian history, and could easily have ended up in a private collection somewhere far from home.

But that was never Haaland’s plan.

“I was never a big reader,” Haaland admitted casually.

Instead of locking it away, he has donated the manuscript permanently to the municipality of Time, where it will be displayed at the library in Bryne: the very town where he grew up.

“I want the book to always be displayed open so that people can read about those who come from my home, from Bryne and Jaeren.”

Haaland’s motivation was clear: keep the manuscript in the Jaeren region so locals can engage with their own history.

“I am living my dream, but unfortunately, that is reserved for only a few. I have seen how books enable many people to dream and make their dreams come true.”

A Different Kind of Legacy

The 25-year-old, already Norway’s all-time leading scorer, is preparing to lead his country back to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

From investing in global chess initiatives to preserving Viking literature, Haaland is quietly expanding his influence far beyond goals and trophies.

Turns out, the man who terrorises defenders also has a soft spot for sagas.

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